If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms for more than two weeks, don’t delay in talking to your doctor about them.

However old you are, you should never be told by your doctor that you are too young to have bowel cancer.

Family History

Most men who develop bowel cancer have no family history of the disease.

However, having relatives, especially first degree relatives such as parents, brothers, sisters or children with bowel cancer significantly increases the risk of developing bowel cancer also.

This risk is increased even further in people with a history of bowel cancer in:

• one or more first degree relatives (parents, siblings, children) diagnosed younger than age 55

• two or more first degree relatives (parents, siblings, children) diagnosed at any age

For example, if either of your parents were diagnosed with bowel cancer before age 55, you have a 3 to 6-fold increase in the risk of developing the disease. If two of your close relatives are diagnosed with bowel cancer (at any age), your risk increases by a similar amount.

Your risk of developing bowel cancer doubles if you have one close relative who is diagnosed with the disease aged over 55.

If have a family history of bowel cancer it is advisable to consult your doctor about specific advice regarding bowel cancer surveillance / screening.

Diet & Lifestyle

It is estimated that changes to diet and physical activity could reduce the incidence of bowel cancer by up to 75 per cent so it is important for men to be aware of what they can do to help reduce their risk.

The latest evidence on modifiable risk factors for bowel cancer - including meat, alcohol, fruit and vegetables, fibre and physical activity - has been compiled into a new resource - Bowel Cancer Risk: Diet and Lifestyle - to help more people reduce their risk of this common disease.

Screening & Surveillance

Medical guidelines recommend screening for bowel cancer every 1 to 2 years using a bowel cancer screening test (known as a Faecal Immunochemical Test or FIT) from age 50 - as bowel cancer risk rises sharply and progressively from age 50.